We are #1

[Dondilion]

Appreciate the excellent posts from both Whell and Boreas.

[nailer]

I have one phone, it's not a land line, and I consider it an essential utility. In addition, so much of what we do in our lives is now done by many via the internet. I'm paperless and in a way the internet has replaced the mail. I'm thinking this makes the internet an essential utility too.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by nailer

I have one phone, it's not a land line, and I consider it an essential utility. In addition, so much of what we do in our lives is now done by many via the internet. I'm paperless and in a way the internet has replaced the mail. I'm thinking this makes the internet an essential utility too.

Which brings up the rather interesting possibility of having the USPS offer broadband service.

John

[whell]

Originally Posted by Boreas

It might increase cost but it only slows things down if the ISPs don't upgrade their service to something approximating the world standard. Our internet speeds are a joke when compared to the rest of the developed, and not so developed, countries.

John

One possible explanation for that, among others.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...-the-internet/

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by whell

One possible explanation for that, among others.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...-the-internet/

Thanks. That article describes the problem as I see it and recommends the solutions I favor.

John

[whell]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Thanks. That article describes the problem as I see it and recommends the solutions I favor.

John

On the other hand...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/halsinge...anica-patrick/

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by whell

On the other hand...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/halsinge...anica-patrick/

According to the author, US broadband is great because, even though it's only half as fast (or a third as fast in customers with speeds above 10 Mbps) as the fastest, it's pretty?

Basically, that article admits that we're slow and expensive but insists that we're not that slow and expensive. Typical Forbes apologist for Big Business.

It also addresses net neutrality not at all.

John

[finnbow]

Not only is Internet stupidly expensive and relatively slow here, cell phone service is also far more expensive here than it is in most of the developed world.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Not only is Internet stupidly expensive and relatively slow here, cell phone service is also far more expensive here than it is in most of the developed world.

The same goes for medical care and prescription drugs and probably a whole lot of other things too. We are being ripped off big time.

[Rajoo]

With each company owning and maintaining it's own separate grid adds to cost and uneven service. For example when we moved in our home, only AT&T service would work, not Verizon nor T-Mobile. Doubt if anything has changed. And this is the Bay Area, not some remote backwater!